The Evolution of Katy Perry

Katy left home and headed to Nashville, where she signed to a Christian music label and recorded a self-titled gospel rock album under the name Kate Hudson. But after things didn't work out, she moved back to California and changed her last name from Hudson to Perry (her mother's maiden name).
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: WireImage</span>
She wanted to expand her musical taste and would sneak CDs into the house. The first CD she bought was by Incubus.
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In 2003, after having worked on a new album with producers The Matrix, the record was abandoned by Columbia, and eventually, she was dropped from the label.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Katy dated rock band Reliant K frontman Matt Thiessen briefly in 2005. He even helped her write a few songs.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Katy met Gym Class Heros' Travie McCoy while on the "Vans Warped Tour." After about a year of being together, the couple split and Travie was reportedly the subject of her song "Circle the Drain" from <i>Teenage Dream</i>.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: FilmMagic</span>
In May 2008, her smash hit "I Kissed a Girl" was released, which launched her career into superstardom. Later that year, her first album on a major label was released, <i>One of the Boys.</i>
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In late 2008, a feud sparked between Katy and Lily Allen. Katy referred to herself as a "skinnier version of Lily Allen," to which Allen said that Katy was simply an American version of her.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: WireImage</span>
Fans got a taste of Katy's style when she performed at the 2009 Grammy Awards. That same month, her singles "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot N' Cold" went platinum.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
During rehearsal for the Grammys that year, is when she met her future BFF, Rihanna.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
In early 2009, she embarked on her first headlining tour, "Hello Katy Tour."
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Katy also performed at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where her relationship blossomed with Russell Brand.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: FilmMagic</span>
Katy and Russell actually shared their first kiss in 2008 when she appeared in a cameo for his film, <i>Get Him to the Greek</i>, but her scene was cut!
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Katy and Russell's romance began to heat up in the fall of 2009. They even attended Paris Fashion week together.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: WireImage</span>
In October 2009, news broke that Katy was working on her new album, <i>Teenage Dream</i>.
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In December 2009, Russell and Katy announced their engagement.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Her single "California Gurls" hit the radio waves in May 2010.
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2010 also brought on remarks aimed at Lady Gaga. After Gaga's "Alejandro" video, Perry tweeted, "Using blasphemy as entertainment is as cheap as a comedian telling a fart joke." Then in August, she said in an interview that she takes offense to Lady G putting a rosary in her mouth.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: <a style="font-size: 9px;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niqrrmev4mA" target="new">Youtube</a></span>
At the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, Katy famously walked the red carpet ... with blue hair!
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: FilmMagic</span>
In November 2010, Katy put out her own fragrance, "Purr."
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In 2011, Katy made her debut on the big screen in <i>The Smurfs"</i> when she lent her voice for the character Smurfette. She also showed up to the red carpet in another look, with blonde hair and her character on her dress.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
From February 2011 until January 2012, Katy took her act on the road with her "California Dreams World Tour."
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
In July 2011, <i>Rolling Stone</i> mag deemed her global Queen of Pop.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: <a style="font-size: 9px;" href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/katy-perry-names-new-perfume-after-queen-20130715" target="new">RollingStones</a></span>
Katy was nominated for a staggering 10 MTV Video Music Awards in 2011. She won three: Video of the Year for "Firework," Best Collaboration and Best Special Effects for "E.T." She rocked the red carpet debuting her pink 'do!
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
After only 14 months of marriage in December 2011, Katy and Russell Brand filed for divorce. Later on, she revealed in an interview that Russell broke up with her via text message.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
February 2012 brought back the blue hair!
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images for EJAF</span>
She also performed at the 2012 Super Bowl pre-party.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Katy took the Grammy stage once again in 2012.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
In the spring of 2012, Katy showed off another new hair color: purple.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images for ABC</span>
Katy's autobiographical film, <i>Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D</i>, was released in July 2012. The movie followed her from her start as a gospel singer to her life as a pop superstar.
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Katy and John Mayer broke up briefly at the end of the summer, before being spotted out together again.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
In November 2012, Katy accepted the "Woman of the Year" Award at Billboard's Women in Music event in New York City.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
That same month, she supported President Barack Obama in his re-election campaign.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
<i>Men's Health</i> even crowned her "Sexiest Woman of 2013."
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
At the 2013 Grammy Awards, the lovebirds showed tons of affection towards each other. But that didn't last for long because by March the two had split, with Mayer confirming the breakup on "Ellen.'
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images for NARAS</span>
Katy seemed to have found love again with John Mayer in June 2013 when they were spotted out to dinner together.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Splash News</span>
Katy and John ended up rekindling their relationship and attended the Friars Foundation Awards Gala in June 2013.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: WireImage</span>
Katy Perry helped to celebrate the opening of the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles with songs from her new album
<i>PRISM</i> on October 22, 2013 in Burbank, CA.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Chris Polk/Getty for iHeartRadio</span>
Katy Perry helped to celebrate the opening of the iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles with songs from her then-new album, <i>PRISM</i>, on October 22, 2013 in Burbank, CA.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Chris Polk/Getty for iHeartRadio</span>
Katy and John finally solidified their relationship by performing a duet together called "Who You Love", where they very publicly proclaimed their love for one another. Soon after they called it quits...again.
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Katy rocked a bedazzled grill for her colorful Egyptian themed video, "Dark Horse."
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: <a style="font-size: 9px;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSOMA3QBU0" target="new">YouTube</a></span>
Katy Perry performed hits from <i>PRISM</i> at The BRIT Awards and at the Grammys.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
With the mega-success of "Dark Horse" under her belt, the pop titan went on to headline "The Prismatic World Tour," which grossed $204.3 million worldwide.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
It was an avenue that led to her Super Bowl XLIX halftime show on February 1, 2015, which featured appearances from Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott. It would go on to become the most watched and highest rated show in Super Bowl history.
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
Later in 2015, Katy's name was thrusted back in the headlines, courtesy of her much-talked about pop feud with Taylor Swift and, of course, "Bad Blood."
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: Getty Images</span>
In May 2016, Perry confirmed talk about a fifth studio album and appetized fans with the surprise release of "Rise," which served as the 2016 Summer Olympic anthem.
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In September, Katy surprised one of the survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting and even offered to pay the victim's film school tuition during his visit to "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
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<p><span style="font-size: 9px;">Photo: <a style="font-size: 9px;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTR9sWuhHyw" target="new">Youtube/TheEllenShow</a></span>